Mechanism for tilting and supporting umbrella tops



April 11, 1961 s. N. SMALL 2,979,065

MECHANISM FOR TILTING AND SUPPORTING UMBRELLA TOPS Filed Sept. 10, 1958 INVENTOR. SAMUEL N. SMALL ATTORNEY MECHANISM FOR TILTING AND SUPPORTING UMBRELLA TOPS Samuel N. Small, Valley Stream, N.Y., assignor to Alfred G. Cohen and Paul Weiss, both of Flushing, NY.

Filed Sept. 10, 1958, Ser. No. 760,195

10 Claims. (Cl. 135-46) This invention relates to umbrellas employing tiltable tops. More particularly, the invention deals with a member for pivotally supporting the umbrella top on the upper portion of a post, with means actuated by a runner for movement of said member into tilted and collapsed positions and for maintaining the member against movement in both of said positions.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

Fig. l is a diagrammatic side view of the upper portion of an umbrella post, showing the parts in normal retained or locked position, With parts of the construction broken away and in section.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing only part of the construction and illustrating the top actuating member in tilted position; and

Fig. 3 is a section on the broken line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

The present construction constitutes a continuation-inpart of the structure shown in my prior application Serial No. 657,943, filed May 8, 1957, now Patent Number 2,863,468.

In the drawing, 5 represents the upper portion of the tubular post of an umbrella, along which is slidably mounted a runner 6, whichin the construction shown is actuataed by a cord or cable 7 through conventional means, not shown, and usually disposed at the lower end portion of the post. One end of the cord or cable 7 is fixed to the runner, as indicated at 8 and the same passes over a pulley 9 pivoted to the upper portion of the post, as indicated at 10, the pulley projecting through an aperture 11 in the wall of the post 5.

Secured to the side of the-post, opposed to the aperture 11, and below said aperture, is a U-shaped bracket 12, shown in section in Fig. 3 of the drawing. The bracket is welded or otherwise fixed to the post.

Mounted in the projecting side walls 13 of the bracket is a pivot pin 14 in which forms the pivotal support for a top operating member 15. The member 15 is generally U-shaped in cross-sectional form or, in other words, is defined by side walls 16, shown in section in Fig. 3, and a crosshead Wall 17, shown partially in section in Fig. l of the drawing. The lower portion of the crosshead 17 is cut out to form extending bearing plates 18, in which the pin 14 is mounted.

It will appear from a consideration of Fig. 1 that the crosshead 17 is also cut out to receive the bracket 12, this cut out being indicated at 19 in said figure.

The crosshead 17 of the member 15 is also apertured as indicated at 20 for reception of one end portion of a spring 21 fixed to the crosshead, as indicated at 22. The other end of the spring 21 is fixed to the post 5, adjacent the aperture 11, as indicated at 23.

The opposed wall of the post 5 has an elongated aperture 24 to clear the spring 21 when theme'mber V Patented Apr. 11, 1961 15 is in its tilted position, as indicated in part in Fig. 2 of the drawing. I

The lower end portions of the side walls 16 of the member 15 have angularly disposed cam-like apertures 25, one side wall 26 of the aperture 25 terminating in a pointed end 27, whereas the other wall 28 of the aperture terminates in a downwardly extending straight bearing portion or stop 29. While only one of the walls 16 is shown in detail, it will be apparent that the opposed wall has the same apertured construction.

Movably supported in connection with the post 5 is a member actuating and lock element 31! which, in the construction shown, is in the form of a sleeve 31 freely movable in the post 5, the sleeve having at upper and lower portions transverse pins 32 and 33, respectively, which operate in elongated apertures 34 in opposed side walls of the post, the lower end 35 of the apertures forming a stop, checking downward movement of the element 30, whereas the upper end 36 forms a stop checking upward movement of the element 31).

The parts are shown in their normal collapsed or nontilted position in Fig. 1 of the drawing, in which position it will appear that the protruding ends of the pin 32 bear upon the surfaces 29, which positively maintains the member 15 against relative movement on the post.

It will also appear from a consideration of Fig. 2 of the drawing that when the member 15 is in its tilted position, the pin 32 strikes the upper end 36 of the aperture 34, thus retaining the member 15 in a predetermined tilted position, this being the maximum tilt that is desired. The particular degree of the tilt can be controlled by the construction of the parts. It will also appear that when in the tilted position, the member 15 is retained against movement by the pin 33 bearing upon the upper surface of the runner 6,, which is held in the open position by the control mechanism employed.

At this time, it will also be apparent that as the runner 6 is moved upwardly the upper surface of the runner strikes the lower pin 33 to actuate the element 30 and thus move the pin 32 into the aperture 25 to operatively engage the wall 26 in movement of the member 15 against the action of the spring 21 into any desired tilted position to the point of extreme tilting, as noted in Fig. 2 of the drawing.

In returning the member 15 to the'collapsed position of Fig. 1, downward movement of the runner 6 will cause the spring 21 to return the member 15 to its collapsed and locked position, as shown in Fig. 1 and at the completion of this operation the pin 33 will strike the lower end 35 of the aperture 34.

The upper end of the member 15 or the walls thereof include inwardly extending flanges 37 through which rivets or other fasteners 38 pass in securing an umbrella top, diagrammatically illustrated at 39, to the upper end of the member.

The top forms a support for the usual canopy. No attempt is made to show the canopy or its various couplings with the top or the runner 6, as these structural features are well known in the art.

It will be apparent that the top 39 is seated upon the upper edge '5 of the post when the parts are in collapsed position, as noted in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An umbrella comprising a single elongated tubular of said extension of the post, interengaging means be tween said post and member to normally retain said member in position against the post, an umbrella top supported on said member, and said means including an element movable longitudinally of the post and operatively engaging said member and post in support of the member in position against'the post-and in tilted position with respect to the post.

2. An umbrella comprising a single elongated tubular post, an umbrella top supporting member tiltably mounted on the post near the upper end portion of the post to leave an extension on the post, said member partially covering said extension and extending to the upper end of said extension of the post, interengaging means between said post and member to normally retain said member in position against the post, an umbrella top supported on said member, said interengaging means comprising cam-like apertures in said member and an element movable longitudinally of the post, and means operatively engaging said element to move the same longitudinally of the post in moving said member into tilted position with respect to the post.

3. An umbrella comprising a single elongated tubular post, an umbrella top supporting member tiltably mounted on the post near the upper end portion of the post to leave an extension on the post, said member partially covering said extension and extending to the upper end of said extension of the post, interengaging means between said post and member to normally retain said member in position against the post, an umbrella top supported on said member, said interengaging means comprising cam-like apertures in said member and an ele ment movable longitudinally of the post, means operatively engaging said element to move the same longitudinally of the post in moving said member into tilted position with respect to the post, and said member including a bearing surface operatively engaging said element in retention of said member again the post.

4. An umbrella comprising a single elongated tubular post, an umbrella top supporting member tiltably mounted on the post near the upper end portion of the post and extending to the upper end of the post, a runner slidable on the post, said runner actuating a lock element movable longitudinally of the post, said element having means operatively engaging cam-like apertures on opposed walls of said member in moving said member into tilted position With respect to the post, and said last named means operatively engaging stops against said member to retain the member in vertical position on said post.

5. An umbrella comprising a single elongated tubular post,'an umbrella top supporting member tiltably mounted on the post near the upper end portion of the post and extending to the upper end of the post, a runner slidable on the post, said runner actuating alock element movable longitudinally of the post, said element having means operatively engaging cam-like apertures on opposed walls of said member in moving saidmember into tilted position with respect to the post, said last named means operatively engaging stops against said member to retain the member in vertical position on said post, and said element including other means engaged by the runner in actuating said element to tilt said member.

6. An umbrella comprising a single elongated tubular post, an umbrella top supporting member tiltably mounted on the post near the upper end portion of the post and extending to the upper end of the post, a runner slidable on the post, said runner actuating a lock element movable longitudinally of the post, said element having means operatively engaging cam-like apertures on opposed walls of said member in moving said member into tilted position with respect to the post, said last named means operatively engaging: stops against said member to retain the member in vertical positionon said post, said element including: other means engaged by the runner in actuating. said element. to tilt said member, and means checking movement of the element in both directions on saidpost.

7. An umbrella comprising a single elongated tubular post, an umbrella top supporting member tiltably mounted on the post near the upper end portion of the post and extending to the upper end of the post, a runner slidable on the post, said runner actuating a lock element movable longitudinally of the post, said element having means operatively engaging cam-like apertures on opposed walls of said member in moving said member into tilted position with respectto the post, said last named means operatively engaging stops against said member to retain the member in vertical position on said post, said element including other means engaged by the runner in actuating said element to tilt said member, means checking movement of the element in both directions on said post, and tensional means controlling relative movement of the member with respect to said post.

8. An umbrella comprising a single elongated tubular post, an umbrella top supporting member tiltably mounted on the post near the upper end portion of the post and extending to the upper end of the post, a runner slidable on the post, said runner actuating a lock clement movable longitudinally of the post, said element having means operatively engaging cam-like apertures on opposed walls of said member in moving said member into tilted position with respect to the post, said last named means operatively engaging stops against said member to retain the member in vertical position on said post, said element comprising a sleeve slidably mounted in the tubular post, that portion of the postin which the sleeve is mounted having elongated apertures on opposed walls thereof, and said means of the element comprising projections operating in the apertures of the post.

9. An umbrella comprising a single elongated tubular post, an umbrella top supporting member tiltably mounted on the post near the upper end portion of the post and extending to the upper end of the post, a runner slidable on the post, said runner actuating a lock element movable longitudinally of the post, said element having means operatively engaging cam-like apertures on opposed Walls of said member in moving said member into tilted position with respect to the post, said last named means operatively engaging stops against said member to retain the member in vertical position on said post, said element comprising a sleeve slidably mounted in the tubular post, that portion of the post in which the sleeve is mounted having elongated apertures on opposed walls thereof, said means of the element comprising projections operating in the apertures of the post, and the projections of the sleeve engaging end portions of the apertures of said post in limiting movement of the sleeve in both directions in the post.

10. An umbrella comprising an elongated tubular post, an elongated umbrella top supporting. means tiltably mounted on the post near the upper end portion of the post and extending to the upper end of the post, a runner slidable longitudinally on the post in both directions, an element movable longitudinally of the post, means checking longitudinal movement of said element in both directions on the post, said element operatively engaging said supporting means to normally retain said supporting means parallel to the post, and said runner directly actuating said element to move said supporting means into tilted position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,704,046 Moraga Mar. 15, 1955 2,721,569 Militano Oct. 25, 1955 2,724,395 Pereira Nov. 22, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 158,813 Austria May 25, 1940 

